Magazine strip for fasteners

ABSTRACT

A magazine strip for holding fasteners ( 1 ) comprising two opposing side walls ( 2 ) running approximately parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction (L) and projecting from a rear wall ( 3 ) to form a receiving space and having open end zones ( 4 ). The receiving space receives the fasteners ( 1 ) at least in part by their longitudinal extent and a loss prevention means ( 7 ) prevents unintentional escape of the fasteners ( 1 ). The loss prevention means ( 7 ) is formed by a constriction ( 8 ) of the receiving space extending vertical to the rear wall ( 3 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention concerns a magazine strip for holding fasteners, in particular screws, with two side walls facing each other and running generally parallel to each other, which form a receiving space for a rear wall and open end zones, wherein the receiving space receives the fasteners at least in part via longitudinal extension and exit of the fastener is prevented by at least one loss prevention means.

[0002] Magazine strips of the aforesaid type are used for holding fastener elements, in particular screws, with a screw head and a shaft connected thereto. The magazine strip has two opposing side walls running longitudinally approximately parallel to each other, which form a receiving space from a rear wall. The receiving space is dimensioned to receive at least one longitudinal end of the fastener element, in particular the head of the screw. The fastener elements are held displaceable along the magazine strip. A loss prevention means is arranged at least one longitudinal end of the magazine strip for preventing unintentional escape of the fasteners out of the magazine. The fastener elements are, for example, held in the magazine strip such that the longitudinal axes are vertical to the rear wall.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,014 discloses a magazine strip with two opposing side walls running approximately longitudinally parallel to each other to form a receiving space. The side walls project from a rear wall and have open end zones defining an opening running longitudinally, whereby the receiving space receives the fastening means at least in part over their longitudinal extent and escape of the fasteners transverse to the longitudinal direction is prevented at each respective longitudinal end zone. The loss prevention means each have a locking tab extending into the receiving space. The locking tab is resiliently configured and spring biased in the receiving space. Upon insertion of the magazine strip, the locking tab is moved against the force of the spring at least in part out of the receiving space and the fastening elements can thus be transported out of the receiving space.

[0004] The drawback to the known solution is that for actuating the loss prevention means a separate and mechanically costly release mechanism is required. Further, the multi-part construction of the loss prevention means has a negative affect on the economy of the magazine strip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a magazine strip that is economical to manufacture and has a loss prevention means.

[0006] According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the loss prevention means is a constriction of the receiving space extending vertically to a rear wall.

[0007] Economical manufacturing of the magazine strip according to the invention is assured by a constriction formed by the rear wall and side walls. For example, the constriction is formed by a constriction of the distance between at least one side wall, in particular its open end zone. When using screws with a screw head as a fastening means, the constriction has an open space extending vertical to the rear wall, wherein the space is smaller than the extent of the head of the screw longitudinal to the screw.

[0008] The constriction is preferably formed by an open end zone and the rear wall to assure economical manufacture.

[0009] The constriction is advantageously arranged at at least one longitudinal end of the magazine strip to assure a maximal number of fastener elements per unit of length in the magazine strip.

[0010] Advantageously, at least one longitudinal end of the magazine strip is connected by the constriction, by a plastic articulation, to the rest of the magazine strip to enable snapping off of the constriction relative to the rest of the magazine strip and thereby releasing the loss prevention means.

[0011] Preferably, the plastic articulation is formed by a material attenuation to assure economic manufacturing of the articulation.

[0012] The material attenuation is preferably formed by at least one longitudinal slit opening onto the opening at at least one side wall so that, on the one hand, breaking off of the end zone containing the constriction is possible without great effort and, on the other hand, to provide the user of the magazine strip with an optical aid for actuating the loss prevention means.

[0013] The material attenuation is advantageously formed by two longitudinal slits disposed opposite each other and running substantially vertical to the rear wall.

[0014] Advantageously, the magazine strip has at least one locking means that fixes the plastic articulation in a locking position to impair or even to prevent unintentional actuation, in particular release of the loss prevention means.

[0015] The locking means is preferably formed by an intentional break zone in one embodiment that is economical to manufacture.

[0016] In an embodiment that is particularly economical to manufacture, the intentional break zone is formed by a web.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the invention is more completely described with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a top view of a magazine strip according to the invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the magazine strip of FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 shows a perspective partial view of the magazine strip of FIG. 1 in the locked condition of a loss prevention means; and

[0021]FIG. 4 shows a perspective partial view of the magazine strip of FIG. 1 in the released condition of a loss prevention means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] FIGS. 1 to 4 shows a magazine strip according to the invention for holding fasteners 1, in particular screws, with two opposing side walls 2 running approximately parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction L and project from a rear wall 3 to form a receiving space 6. The side walls 2 have a open end zone 4 vertical to the rear wall 3 that prevents the fasteners 1 from falling out and delimit a longitudinal opening 12. The receiving space receives the fasteners 1 in part via their longitudinal extent. In order to prevent escape of the fasteners 1 in the longitudinal direction L at the two longitudinal ends 5 a and 5 b a loss prevention means (generally identified by 7) is disposed at each longitudinal end.

[0023] The loss prevention means 7 has at both longitudinal ends 5 a, 5 b a constriction 8 of the receiving space extending vertical to the rear wall 3, said constriction being formed by the open end zones 4 and the rear wall 3, as is shown particularly in FIG. 3. Further, the loss prevention means 7 has a plastic articulation 10 connecting the zone of the longitudinal ends 5 a, 5 b with the rest of the magazine strip. Preferably, the plastic articulation 10 is formed by a material attenuation, in particular by two opposing longitudinal slits 9 arranged on both side walls 2. Further, the magazine strip has a web 11, in the zone of the longitudinal slit 9, that acts as a security means, which fixes the plastic articulation rigidly in a locked position. By breaking off one of the two longitudinal ends 5 a, 5 b with the respective constriction in the area of the webs 11 acting as the intentional break zones, the loss prevention means 7 is released and the fasteners 1 can escape through a respectively opened longitudinal end opening 15.

[0024] The fastener elements 1 have a shaft part 13 and a head part 14, whereby the shaft part 13 connected with the head part 14 can be provided with an external thread (not shown). The fastening elements 1 are held in the magazine strip by the head part 14, in particular in the receiving space 6 of the magazine strip. In the locked condition of the loss release means 7 (as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3), an escape of the fastening elements 1, in particular the head parts 14 of the fastening elements is prevented by the constriction 8. When one of the ends of the magazine strip containing the constriction 8 is broken off, the constriction 8 pivots towards the remaining part of the magazine strip about the respective articulation 10 and opens the longitudinal end opening 15 defined by the rear wall and the side walls 2. In order for the fastening elements 1 to be held longitudinally displaceable, in direction L of the magazine strip, an escape of the fastening elements through the opened longitudinal opening 15 is possible. This process can, for instance, be promoted by an element spring-biasing the fastener elements 1 in the longitudinal direction L towards the opened longitudinal end opening 15. Representation of the spring element has not been provided for reasons of clarity. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A magazine strip for holding fasteners (1), the magazine comprising two opposing side walls (2) running approximately parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction (L) and projecting from a rear wall (3) to form a receiving space (6) and having open end zones (4), wherein the receiving space receives the fasteners (1) at least in part by their longitudinal extents and a loss prevention means (7) prevents escape of the fasteners (1), wherein the loss prevention means (7) is a constriction (8) of the receiving space vertical to the rear wall (3).
 2. The magazine strip of claim 1, wherein the constriction (8) is formed by at least one of the open end zones (4) and the rear wall (3).
 3. The magazine strip of claim 1, wherein the constriction (8) is arranged at least at one longitudinal end (5 a, 5 b) of the magazine strip.
 4. The magazine strip of claim 1, wherein at least one longitudinal end (5 a, 5 b) of the magazine strip is connected to the constriction (8) by a plastic articulation (10) with the rest of the magazine strip.
 5. The magazine strip of claim 4, wherein the plastic articulation (10) is formed by a material attenuation.
 6. The magazine strip of claim 5, wherein the material attenuation is formed by at least one longitudinal slit (9) arranged on at least one side wall (2).
 7. The magazine strip of claim 6, wherein the material attenuation is formed by two opposing longitudinal slits (9) running essentially vertical to the rear wall (3).
 8. The magazine strip of claim 4, wherein the magazine strip has at least one securing means rigidly fixing the plastic articulation (10) in a locking position.
 9. The magazine strip of claim 8, wherein the securing means is formed by an intentional break zone.
 10. The magazine strip of claim 9, wherein the intentional break zone is formed by a web (11).
 11. The magazine strip of claim 1, wherein the holding fasteners (1) are screws. 